Love the show and admittedly am a self-proclaimed liberal. My question/concern when the topic concerns guilt by association why doesn't it work both ways? Aside from Matthews no reporter counters the R "anti-american" rhetoric with Pallin and her true close "association" with secessionism; McCain and his "association" with William Timmons an undisputed lobbyist for Sadam among others. I'm sick of D's simply absorbing the blow instead of countering with point blank rebuttal points. Also, why doesn't any talking head ever ask one of the R talking heads to define in greater detail the so called "association" with Ayers. The media in general allows McCain to throw out conclusory statements without probing for details. Sorry needed to rant. THanks

Chris, this woman is a complete nut case. You should have asked her about John McCain's assocation with G. Gordon Liddy and Charles Keating. Maybe that would have shut her up. It was really scary listening to her. I feel that the people who elected her need to think again about her intelligence or the lack of it!

Rep Bachmann is a out right racist, and needs to repent immediately. May God have mercy on her soul. What she is doing is called slander and she should be ashame of herself !!!

   I am from minnesota and I can tell you that Michelle Bachmann is an extremist. The thing that seemed peculiar was the fact that she gave no other tangible information than Senator Obama had not already given himself. I also think with a blond wig she may be Ann Coulter.
    There are some good Michelle Bachman rants of insanity on youtube.

Tonight on "HARDBALL with Chris Matthew" Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann of Minnesota made a suggestion that Barack Obama and other "liberal" members of congress such as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senator Harry Reid of Nevada were "un-American".  She also suggested that certain liberal college professors were "un-American" apparently because of their political views.

Coming from a member of Congress from Minnesota these comments seem to me stunningly disturbing and provide a window into her frightening way of seeing people in this country who may disagree with her political views.  Is she suggesting that former "liberal" college professor and U.S. Senator from Minnesota, the late Paul Wellstone was "un-American"?  Perhaps she was also inferring that "liberal" former U.S. Senators and Vice-Presidents of the United States Walter Mondale and Hubert H. Humphrey were "un-American" as well.

The fact that a member of Congress would question the patriotism or "Americanism" of fellow legislators who happen not to hold her political views is disgraceful and she should be held to account for these views.  I would hope that every citizen in her congressional district (I believe it is the Minnesota 6th District) sees her interview with Chris Matthews and thinks of the great Americans and fellow Minnesotans that she slandered by implication with her comments.

Our country once went through a period when the patriotism of others was questioned by insinuatation and character assassination.  I would think that the days of the Un-American Activities Committee were long gone.  Perhaps Congresswoman Bachmann is nostaglic for those times?  

The time has come for  political leaders to lead by showing respect for one another, and if they cannot do so, then citizens must be prepared to make sure they do so by holding them accountable at the ballot box.

Thanks Chris for your well delivered questions that allowed a sad example of the right to shlosh around in the slime of facism that is obviously so close to her soul. I felt so bad I sent money to her opponent. I can only hope that the good people of Minnesota send her packing.  

Why is Sarah Palin's ties with the AIP and her husband's membership never brought up? Rep.
Bachman insisted that Obama had not come clean on the Ayers issue but I think the Palins' involvement in the AIP is so much worse but it is not thrown back at them.  Since she will not talk with the news people the voters are not going to hear how she explains this!!  She is the one that pals around. Please report on that!!  John McCain is not clean either but I hear no reports about him.  His pick of Palin should be enough proof that he does NOT think country first.  Please report on the Palins and reveal how dirty they really are!!

Are we sure Sen. Bachmann is not a direct descendant of Sen. McCarthy??  The next thing we know, she will be asking us all to sign an affidavit to prove we are all "true" Americans like she is!!  I don't know that I have been so disturbed and afraid for our democracy since the Saturday Night Massacre!  

Republicans are really hurting...

I love how theres nothing "radical" about conservatives yet...

Left=Liberal=Radical=Obama=Anti-American?

Who does the GOP's math? Dan Quayle?

These guys are reaching.  It's sad that they have nothing to offer the people of America...They are a bankrupt lot of sad individuals

"...if by a liberal they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people - their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties... if that is what they mean by a "liberal" then I am proud to be a liberal."  ~ John F. Kennedy

Ms. Bachmann's comments have actually served to elevate my opinion of Senator McCain's campaign.  Until tonight, I believed he could not have chosen a WORSE running mate than Sarah Palin.

I was wrong.

Excuse me while I go take a shower.

This woman does not represent the United States that I love. She needs to be defeated in her re-election. Even though I live in California, I just donated $100 to her opponent's campaign. Go Tinklenberg! For more crazy outbursts from this radical nutjob, check out the Daily Kos home page.

I just sent a $50 contribution to her opponent, and I live in Philly.  This is what Minnesota sends to Congress?

Check out Michele Bachmann on Face Book. See what true Americans think of her comments.

Wow.  Paul Wellstone is rolling over in his grave!  What is happening to Minnesota? I used to live there several years ago and someone like Michelle Bachmann would never have been elected.  She is highly offensive to me- a bleeding heart liberal.  Please don't give this lunatic anymore airtime. She is ignorant and only serves to stir the lunatic fringe out there. This is dangerous ground.  

Please remind her that Obama has been vetted thoroughly throughout this 20 month campaign and he is a United States Senator.  Borderline slander. Well, maybe not borderline. The republican party will do/say anything to win. So sad. She does not share this American's view. Let's not devolve into McCarthyism. That black chapter in our history needs to remain closed for good.  

Chris-
You have out done yourself by letting Ms. Bachmann talk and reveal her anti-American hate filled Conservative Republican rhetoric. I was surprised when 'Pat' agreed with the gist of her arguments. Having her next to Katrina was a brilliant stroke. It was a mismatch between an intellectual giant and a midget. John McCain and Palin have brought this race down into the gutter. They stand for nothing other than the will to power. Keep up the excellent work-- you have my respect.

Bachmann is a disgrace.  Donate to her opponent and help remove her from a place she obviously doesn't belong, Congress.  Pat Buchanan stated immediately after this interview that he agreed with everything Bachmann said, except regarding anti-Americans in Congress.  How do we remove Buchanan from a place he obviously doesn't belong, MSNBC?

Rep. Bachmann represents a district that is 92% white (2% black, 2% Hispanic), so it is not surprising that she has a skewed point of view.  Anti-American obviously means the same thing as "ethnic" in her world.  I'm donating to her opponent right now!

In this campaign the republicans are despicable.  The insinuations and accusations are deplorable.  Is this the 21 century or are we going back to the time of another with the initials JM?  Joe McCarthy and the search for the un american. Is this a new version of McCarthyism.  I thought as a country we learned how damaging outright fear mongering can be.  JFK said it best  We have nothing to fear but fear it's self.
Protect your rights from this radical right.

I would like to commend Chris Mathews on his clarity and incisive style of journalism. I would ask you to PLEASE cover the close associations of the Palins and the AIP, an anti-American militant organization if ever there was one.It is so hypocritical for Sarah Palin to harp  on about pro-America vs.anti-America and to call out Sen. Obama for palling around with terrorists when she recently "blessed" the AIP for their good work, has received campaign contributions from them and tried to fill her city council seat with one of their leaders. Check out the recent salon.com article about this. Americans of all stripes need to know the truth about this hypocrite! Thanks.

Who is the candidate running against Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann of Minnesota (one of the McCain surrogates)? I was previously extremely disgusted by her erroneous and racist accusations that CRA and loans made to minorities caused the mortgage melt down. However, most recently she has sunk to an even lower level with her call for the "media" to do an investagative expose on the Democratic members of Congress and the House to deterine which ones might be "Anti-American". Michele Bachmann is a disgrace to the female race and she should be an embarrassment to her Party. I personally had planned to contribute additional money to Obama's Presidential campaign, however,I feel my dollars would be better served contributing to the person that is running against
Michelle Bachmann (I also plan to solicit money from other Ohioians to help defeat that mad delusional woman. She is a dangerous and reckless Government representative that needs to be defeated). Could you please repeat her opponents name and how I can contact him?

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